West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1887-04-21
500. 600 600 FOR DRINKS.
Coffee Taking tho Place OF the
Stronger StimuIants.

Stronger StimuIRnts.
Twenty or more rnges of the quarterly re-
port OF the Chief OF the Bureau Of Statistics,
just out. are devoted TO the "consumption OF
distilled and malt liquors and wines" and os-
Inmates made by rec1gniEsd authorities are
given upon various features OF this subject.
In round numbers the consumption Of dis.
titled spirits, domestic and imported, in thls
country, is shown 20 have increased from 49,.
OcO,OJO gallons in 1910 TO 72,O)O,COl In 1885,
OF wines from 800 900 gallon TO %. .OCO, 900,
and OF malt liquors from 23OOO,OOO 10 Gi2,-
900. OJO.
The consumption por capita during tho
same period decreased as regards distilled
spirits from about 2< gallons 20 about ~
gallons; aud increased as regards wines from
29'lOOtO 3S-l0O gallons, and malt liquors
from less than u TO more than IL gallons
An elaborate statement made 10y y. N.
Barrett, editor OF the Now York Grocer, 10y
request Of tue Chief of the bureau, is given,
which sets forth among other things, that the
present average expenditure in this country
per annum for Dalt aud sprituou, quors nn1
beer at retail is 500, O,uOOOOO. The drinking
population is estimated 10 be dn 1886 4i4,
S2j, Az, making the average expenditure per
capita $500. Mr.. Barrett shows 10y tables
covering the five years from 1882 to 1886 in.
elusive that the consumption OF spirits is do
creasing while that OF beer II increasing
and that there Is a reduced use OF wine hs a
beverage.
During this period, he says, the consump
tion Of coffee has risen from 521O pounds
per capita TO 8 l1lOO pounds Do not these
facts show that the milder stimulants are
driving out their fiery competitor and is IL
not due TO the growing agitation OF the tenn
porance question: Mr. Barrett says the
Wholesale cost OF ofliquors for which the retail.
ers receive 800 0OO,C0J is not marc than
$500, OO0,Oo0. He makes brief calculation
Of the cost Of liquors ns compared With that
OF food, clothing and shelter. reaching the
conclusion that the American people expect
from $l2 10 Sl7 for the 'necessaries' named,
10 every dollar paid out for liquor.
James A. Webb. Of New York, furnishes
a statement 70 tho effect that only 10 rer
cent OF the distilled spirits consumed in this
country arc used for medical and manufac>
turing purposes. 81 per cont being used as
years ending with 1895 IL is learned that the
consumption OF distilled spirits per oapita
has steadily increased in France from
9ilOO gallons 70 1 32iO) that It has varied
in this country between ! 40 100 in 1888 and
MlOO gallons in 1884 ami 1895, that the
United Kingdom conLumes n little moro
than gallon per capita. and that tho con.
sumption in Germany has decreasei from
! 32l0O IN 1881 10 "a 100 ia 1885 Francs
during the same per.oi increased her wine
consumption from IS - 10 nearly 81 gallons,
while This country and the United Kingdom.
beginning with less than haH o gallon Der
head showsa slight falling oH ln the mat.
ter Of beer consumption during this period
the United States increased her averags from
little less than 10 TO a little moro than n
gallons, the United Kingdom held her own
At about 80 gallons. AMI Germany did the
same az about q gallonA